Congratulations to McMinnville High School taking first place overall at the 2017 ProStart® Culinary Championships! Oregon ProStart culinary students from 14 high schools from across the state competed in the statewide event, tasked with creating a three-course gourmet meal using only two butane burners and without the benefit of electricity.

McMinnville students won a share of $160,000 in academic scholarships and earned a spot to compete in the National ProStart Invitational April 28-29. McMinnville High School’s winning menu included Dungeness crab miso custard, Thai shrimp cakes, and bittersweet truffle torte.
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View event photos on Flickr.

[February, 19, 2017 - Salem, OR] – The challenge for the student chefs was to prepare a three-course gourmet meal with only two butane burners in under an hour. McMinnville High School (pictured) pulled this off with excellence, winning top honors at the Oregon ProStart® Culinary High School Championships hosted by the Education Foundation of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLAEF) on February 19, 2017 in Salem, Oregon.

ProStart, one of the nation’s largest industry-supported career and technical education (CTE) programs, teaches high school students culinary and management skills needed by restaurant, hospitality and foodservice employers. Focused on culinary techniques and restaurant management skills, this competency-based curriculum also includes real-life restaurant experiences. The Oregon ProStart state competition is the capstone of this two-year program, providing a public opportunity for students to showcase what they have learned.

Final results for the culinary competition: First place – McMinnville High School Second place – Bend High School Third place – Sabin-Schellenberg Center Fourth place – Tualatin High School Fifth place – Willamette High School

Additional awards presented at the event: Best Overall Teamwork – McMinnville High School Foster Farms Student of the Year: Marya Agatucci, Bend High School Teacher of the Year: Molly Ziegler, Bend High School Mentor of the Year: Andrea Phillips, Tualatin High School ​“The atmosphere at this event was electric,” said Wendy Popkin, executive director of ORLAEF. “The ProStart program does a remarkable job preparing high school students with fundamental skills such as communication, teamwork, time management and professionalism needed to enter the workforce.” Students also vie for their share of over $160,000 in scholarships and prizes.

The team from McMinnville High School will head to the 2017 National ProStart Invitational® April 28-30, 2017, in North Charleston, SC. These Oregon champions also receive scholarships from local and national culinary schools to help further their careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry.

Currently 36 Oregon schools, with more than 3,000 students participate in the ProStart training program. Internationally, ProStart includes 137,300 students in 1,768 schools and technical centers across the United States, Guam, Europe, and Asia.

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As the philanthropic foundation of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, ORLAEF supports and promotes diverse career, educational, and public service opportunities within the hospitality industry to create a vibrant industry that contributes to Oregon’s economic livelihood and its citizens’ quality of life. Oregon’s restaurant and foodservice industry is comprised of over 9,000 foodservice locations and has a total economic impact of $8 billion - making it the cornerstone of the economy and one of the state’s largest employers.

Restaurant Neighbor Award Winners To Be Recognized for Community EngagementOregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Honors Oregon Recipients​[February 7, 2017 - Wilsonville, OR] – Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association will recognize the state winners of the acclaimed National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) Restaurant Neighbor Award during the association’s annual Convention on October 8, 2017. Three Oregon finalists were recently chosen and forwarded to the NRAEF to compete for the grand prize of $10,000 to support their favorite charity or non-profit.

The Restaurant Neighbor Award, developed in partnership with American Express, celebrates the outstanding charitable service performed by restaurant operators throughout the U.S. With nine in 10 restaurants involved in community service, this award recognizes the impact restaurants and entrepreneurs have made on their local communities.

“The involvement and dedication these restaurants have shown in support of local philanthropy is commendable and exemplifies the spirit of our industry and our state,” said Jason Brandt, ORLA President & CEO. The 2017 Restaurant Neighbor Award winners from Oregon are:

The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of over 9,000 foodservice locations and 2,200 lodging establishments with a workforce of 164,800, and a total economic impact of $8 billion - making it the cornerstone of the economy, career opportunities and community involvement. The association works to advocate, protect, train and promote the foodservice and lodging industry.

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High school culinary teams of four prepare a three-course gourmet meal in 60 minutes in front of a crowd using only two butane burners and without access to running water or electricity. Management teams develop a concept for a new restaurant and present it to judges from industry and post-secondary education. ​This ProStart competition is the capstone of the two-year program, providing a public opportunity for students to showcase what they have learned. ProStart is a national career and technical education curriculum and program developed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).

Past State Champions:2018: Willamette High School (culinary); Bend High School (management)2017: McMinnville High School2016: South Salem High School2015: South Salem High School2014: Seaside High School2013: Seaside High School2012: South Salem 2011: Bend High School2010: Bend High School2009: South Salem High School2008: South Salem High School2007: Willamette High School2006: Bend High School2005: Yoncalla High School2004: Willamette High School2003: Taft High School2002: Taft High School2001: David Douglas High School

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